Cyclist John Whiteing nearly died when a red P-plater came around a blind corner on the wrong side of the road, forcing the Willoughby cyclist to swerve, brake and fly over the handlebars.

Back on his bike, he's furious that a NSW Police crackdown this week targeted cyclists not wearing helmets - and not the motorists who threaten their lives by breaching safe passing rules designed to prevent serious injuries and fatalities.

John Whiteing, a cyclist from Willoughby who narrowly escaped being killed, and has complained repeatedly to police but nothing has happened. Credit:James Brickwood

Mr Whiteing "dodged a bullet" by surviving a hangman fracture to his cervical spine that either kills or leaves 90 per cent of victims in a wheelchair, his surgeon said.

Since recovering, he's recorded three serious incidents where motorists breached the minimum passing distance rules. Despite providing photographic and video evidence, the police refused to act.

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"The police are not doing their job. I just don't think they're interested," he said.

Only 70 motorists have been charged since safe passing rules were introduced in 2016. Cars must give cyclists at least a metre of space when passing in speed zones of 60km/h or below, and 1.5 metres in higher speed zones.

Police involved in Operation Pedro on Monday reported 103 cyclists not wearing helmets, an 84 per cent increase from last year. The number of cyclists riding on the footpath rose 102 per cent to 69.

Cyclists were only riding on the footpath because they felt unsafe on the road, said the national cycling group, the Bicycle Network.

“It is ironic to think that virtually the only thing NSW has done to make bike riding more comfortable was not enforced on the day that is supposed to focus on bike rider safety,” said Craig Richards, the network's chief executive.

“We are calling on NSW Police to enforce minimum passing distance and dangerous driving laws, not just during special operations but on all occasions.”

The network said cycling fatalities have stayed the same for 20 years, averaging 35 a year, while there has been a downward trend in the same period for motorists.

Since 1998, 742 cyclists have been killed on the roads. About 83 per cent these involved another driver, it found.

New South Wales is one of two Australian states that bans people aged 12 and older from riding bikes on footpaths.

Mr Whiteing said Operation Pedro is targeting the low-hanging fruit - easy violations such as lack of bells and helmets that are easier to identify than moving violations.

He said his evidence made generous allowances, so even if his calculations were out by 20 per cent, his records showed motorists coming within a metre.

He is always vigilant, and does everything to protect himself.

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"I always have cameras on, with built-in lights, front and rear, and always wear a hi-vis, and I have rear view mirrors. I have done everything I can to look after myself, as well as watching the rules of the road," Mr Whiteing said.

"Based on my experience, police don't care and they don't think cyclists should be on the road." He called on the NSW Police Commissioner to show some leadership by directing police to enforce the minimum passing distance rules.